Both granulosa cells (GCs) and ovarian surface epithelial cells undergo apoptosis in vivo. Although basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and N-cadherin-mediated cell contact inhibit GC apoptosis, little is known about the factors that influence rat ovarian surface epithelial (ROSE) cell apoptosis. The present studies were designed to determine whether bFGF and N-cadherin maintain the viability of both GC and ROSE cells by stimulating separate signaling pathways. For the GC studies, large GCs were collected from immature rat ovaries after Percoll gradient centrifugation and placed in serum-free culture for 24 h. These studies confirmed that about 10% of the aggregated GCs and more than 50% of single GCs were apoptotic after culture. bFGF reduced the percentage of apoptotic single GCs, but did not influence aggregated GCs. A neutralizing antibody to bFGF blocked bFGF's antiapoptotic action, but did not alter the percentage of apoptotic aggregated GCs. The antibody to N-cadherin not only increased the percentage of aggregated apoptotic GCs, but also blocked bFGF's ability to maintain the viability of single GCs. The effect of the FGF receptor antibody was similar to that of the N-cadherin antibody. Like GCs, ROSE cells also undergo apoptosis in serum-free medium. Exposure to either the N-cadherin or FGF receptor antibody, even in the presence of serum, increased the percentage of apoptotic aggregated ROSE cells. As tyrosine kinase activity is involved in maintaining cell viability, the pattern of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins was examined after culture in control (ascites) or N-cadherin antibody-supplemented medium. Exposure to the N-cadherin antibody altered the pattern of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, decreasing the tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the 130- to 180-kDa range and increasing the tyrosine phosphorylation of one or more proteins of about 50 kDa. The identity of the 50-kDa protein is unknown. However, immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the N-cadherin antibody reduced the amount of tyrosine-phosphorylated FGF receptor in both GCs and ROSE cells by 50%. This decrease corresponds to an increase in apoptosis among aggregated cells. Taken together, these data suggest that homophilic N-cadherin binding and bFGF-FGF receptor binding activate signal transduction pathways that converge at the level of the FGF receptor and subsequently promote the viability of both GC and ROSE cells.

Previous studies have shown that both progesterone and cell contact inhibit granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis in vitro. Since the progesterone concentration associated with aggregated GCs may be higher than that of single GCs, experiments were conducted to differentiate progesterone's action from that of cell contact. For these studies, GCs were isolated from immature rats. Large GCs were collected after Percoll gradient centrifugation and placed in serum-free culture for 24 h. These studies confirmed that the rate of apoptosis was 2-3 times higher for single GCs than for aggregated GCs. This relationship was observed in the presence of aminoglutethimide, where progesterone concentrations were 3 ng/ml or less. A dose-response studied revealed that a minimum of 100 ng/ml progesterone were required to suppress apoptosis of single GCs. In addition, a single cell contact was shown to be sufficient to suppress apoptosis, with a small nonsteroidogenic GC being as effective as a large steroidogenic GC. Taken together, these data support the concept that cell contact blocks apoptosis in a progesterone-independent manner. GC contact is due to the presence of gap and adhesion-type junctions. To assess which, if either, of these junctions is involved in mediating the antiapoptotic action of cell contact, cocultures were set-up between GCs and R2C cells. Contact with R2C cells inhibits GC apoptosis, but does not result in the formation of functional gap junctions. This demonstrates that gap junctions are not essential to maintain GC viability. Adhesion-type junctions result from a homophilic binding of N-cadherin, which is expressed by both GCs and R2C cells. When this binding is inhibited by treatment with either an antibody to N-cadherin or a synthetic N-cadherin peptide, cell aggregation is attenuated. For those cells that form cell contacts in the presence of these N-cadherin-binding inhibitors, the percentage of apoptotic cells is increased compared to that in controls. These observations suggest that homophilic binding of N-cadherin molecules on the surface membranes of adjacent GCs initiates a signal transduction cascade that ultimately inhibits apoptosis.

Introduction Whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be detected in semen and transmitted sexually is a vital question that has, thus far, been inconclusive. Prior studies, with limited numbers, have included men in various stages of infection with most in the recovery phase of the illness. The timing of test results and severity of illness has made recruiting study participants a significant challenge. Our pilot study will examine semen from men with a recent diagnosis of COVID-19 as well as those in the convalescent phase to determine if SARS-CoV-2 can be detected and its relationship, if any, with the severity of the disease. Methods Eighteen men with a median age of 32 (range, 24-57) who tested positive for COVID-19 by rt-PCR analysis were enrolled and provided a semen sample. The study group demonstrated symptoms of COVID-19 ranging from asymptomatic to moderate and none required hospitalization. Samples were subjected to viral RNA extraction and then processed by real-time RT-PCR using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, USA) panel of 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) primers and probes to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Results Length of time from diagnosis to providing a specimen ranged from 1 to 28 days (median, 6 days). Fifteen participants were symptomatic and three were asymptomatic, including recovering men, at the time of semen collection. No SARS-CoV-2 was detected in any of the semen samples. Conclusion Based on these preliminary results and consistent with prior findings, we suggest SARS-CoV-2 is not present in semen during the acute or convalescent phase of COVID-19.

The pros and cons of artificial intelligence in assisted reproductive technology are presented.

The prognosis for a live birth from IVF in a patient with very advanced reproductive age, particularly with an undetectable AMH level using autologous oocytes, remains extremely poor. This case should be interpreted with caution so as to not provide false hope to women aged 45 and above.

Patients with the rare condition of 100% zona-free oocytes maintain the potential for pregnancy after careful micromanipulation of the oocytes. Caution is recommended on the number of embryos selected for transfer to reduce the risk of multiple gestation.

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Despite centuries of lessons from history, war endures. Across Earth, during nearly every year from the beginning of the twentieth century to present day, over 30 wars have been fought resulting in 187 million casualties, excluding the most recent conflict, which is the impetus for this essay (Timeline of 20th and 21st century wars). We are, sadly, a war-mongering people. The word “war” word infiltrates our vernacular, e.g., the war on poverty, on drugs, on cancer, on COVID, and, apropos, on terror. How did rational approaches to disagreement and conflict evade the world’s progress? Reproductive physicians and scientists are dedicated to safeguard lives and build families. Violence is antithetical to our mission as professionals, and moral integrity as humans. We are deeply concerned for, and stand in unity with, our Ukrainian colleagues—the embryologists, scientists, OBGYN and REI physicians, infertility patients, and all people under siege. Reproductive health services for Ukrainians (as with many other war-torn regions) have collapsed. Deeply disturbing reports have emerged that cite civilian hospitals (including maternity centers) being targeted. Liquid nitrogen supplies are scarce. Pregnant mothers and gestational carriers are at emergent risk of delivering in extremely harsh conditions, cold underground bunkers and refugee queues.